By Seth Gustafson and Adam Chauncey

With marijuana being legal in certain states and not others, many people are curious about the effects this plant has on the human body.

Often when people talk about cannabis, they generally tend to focus on the effects of “getting high” from marijuana. This conversation tends to focus entirely on the type of direct “psychoactive” effect that the cannabinoid THC produces in the marijuana plant while ignoring the THC produced in hemp, another flowering plant in the cannabis family.

While marijuana is primarily grown inside in order to cultivate a high THC content, hemp is most often grown outside and is used for all kinds of purposes, such as uses in the manufacturing of clothing, paper, plastics, dietary supplements, cosmetics and foods. More specifically, hemp that is used for dietary supplements is either grown for its omega 3 and 6 oil, as well as for its high CBD content.

CBD is one of 113 phytonutrients found in marijuana and hemp and is overshadowed by THC. But there is much to be said about CBD and its many benefits to the human body.

CBD vs. THC

Because CBD and THC are both cannabinoids contained within cannabis plants—and are the active compounds producing most of the effect within dietary and prescription supplements—it's important to contrast their potential safety and side effects specifically.

Currently, THC is sold for prescription only in a FDA-approved product called dronabinol (Marinol), also known as medical marijuana prescribed to certain cancer patients dealing with nausea and vomiting. Learn more about Marinol here . Common side effects listed include clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, false sense of well-being, nausea, trouble with thinking and vomiting.

On the other hand, CBD is generally considered a safe substance clinically as well as anecdotally, and is often used in the attempt to reduce inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, seizures, spasms and other conditions.

CBD can be sold as an isolate, which means it is completely free from other cannabinoids, in an oil with other constituents or sold as a “full spectrum” version, where CBD is contained with most other constituents found naturally in hemp. The “full spectrum” option seems to be the preferred option at the moment.

CBD products can come in oils, balms, vapes, salves and crystals, with or without other ingredients.

As always, before taking any dietary supplement or prescription, it is important to consult first with your doctor or pharmacist. Be sure to review your entire list of current medications with them to avoid possible drug interactions.

That being said, if you choose to come to us first and would like us to check for interference with general medications, we are equipped to handle many of these situations with our Aisle 7 system, as well as being there to assist you with any follow-up questions regarding general CBD consumption.

Nutrition World only sells legal forms of CBD.

How often can CBD be taken?

At Nutrition World, we cannot recommend nor prescribe a specific amount of CBD to consume for any condition. We do, however, recommend starting with a “low and slow” approach.

Because everyone will experience CBD’s general effects differently and it can take some time for the body to become acclimated to these effects, it is best to begin with around 5 -10mg of CBD 2 - 4 times per day. From here, slowly increase that amount as directed by a practitioner and or as perceived necessary.

We sell hemp extracts containing CBD because they offer a number of helpful effects. That being said, a single supplement is not sufficient to mitigate a specific issue, a reason we also believe in taking up certain healthy lifestyles, especially regarding nutrition intake.

As always, we recommend a whole food quality dietary program to go with any supplement regime from CBD to XYZ. Often, supplements are needed even with these diets; however, there is no replacement for a healthy whole food diet based on individual needs. Most importantly, we recommend removing refined sugar from the diet. This has been proven to reduce systemic inflammation, a common reason leading people to ask about CBD.

Quality first

Given the huge growth of consumer-based hemp extracts and CBD products, there is much to consider regarding the overall quality, purity, sustainability and safety of these products.

At Nutrition World, we go above and beyond to vet our vendors but also further test the products we carry, according to the standards and values we consider important for the community we serve.

Seth Gustafson is the Director of Education and certified health coach at Nutrition World, which opened in 1979 with the priority of offering Chattanooga’s best selection of health products that meet high standards for quality.

Adam Chauncey is a wellness consultant and certified health coach at Nutrition World, who never ceases in his pursuit of understanding how what we consume affects us.